Gate-latch



(No Model.) 2 Sheet-Sheet 1.

F. N. MARTIN.

GATE LATUH.

No. 250,091. Patented Nov. 29,1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FENTON N. MARTIN, OF VIRDEN, ILLINOIS.

GATE-LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,091, dated November29, 1881, Application filed May 9, 1El8l. (No model.)

exact description of the same.

My invention is a latch or catch adapted more especially for gates, butcapable of use also upon doors. It is represented in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure l is an end view of the gate broken away toshow the parts in place; Fig. 2, a front View; Fig. 3, separate views oflatch. Figs. 4 and 5 are modifications.

In the drawings, A represents the gravitating catch, made preferablywith a straight vertical side, a, and an inclined rounded side, b, thecatch being approximately in the form of a right-angle triangle, pivotedat the base on pintles c c. It is preferably pivoted, substantially atright angles to the plane of the gate, within the iron box or case D,which may be inserted in the edge of the gate or door. This box is amore convenient mode of suspending or mounting the pivoted catch, as thecatch may be pivoted therein and the completed article put upon themarket, it being necessary, in order to insert it, only to form a cavityin the edge of the gate or door, and then attach the box in place; butthe catch may be fastenedin place in any other convenient waywithoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

The gravitating catch is so mounted that it cannot be thrown up quite toa vertical position, the inner edge striking against the head of ascrew, d, or any other convenient stop before reaching the verticalposition. It will be understood, therefore, that when left free thelatch will fall outward to a position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5.

The latch is raised by means of a small shaft, E, which passes throughthe front piece of the frame of the gate when used upon a gate, and alsothrough the lower edge of the catch. This shaft has pins 8 0 upon theinner end, and a knob or handle, f, upon the other end. The pins 0 0move in a recess, g, in the lower edge of the catch, and when the shaftis rocked the ends of the pins 0 e strike against the upper in the sideof the frame or post opposite the edges of the recess when the shaft isrocked in one direction or the other, and throw the catch up into thecase, thereby releasing it.

It will be understood that a recess is formed position occupied by thecatch when the door or gateis shut, so that the catch can fall readilyinto said recess and fasten the door. When the gate or door is open thecatch falls outward, and as the door or gate closes said inclined facestrikes against the edge of the post or frame, and is thereby pushedinward until the door or gate is closed.

In order to prevent the edge of the post or frame from wearing, a pieceof wire, rod, or strip of metal may be applied to the edge. For gates apiece of wire in the form of an ordinary bridge-tack may be sufficient.

The casing may be made in any suitable form; that shown in the drawingsis composed of three lobes or circular parts, h h it. These areconvenient for fitting the case to the doors, since the cavity for thecase may be formed by boring three holes. So far as concerns thepractical operation of the catch, any other shape of the case adapted tohold the catch would serve the same purpose.

Instead of the shaft passing at right angles to the catch and lifting itby means of the pins, for some purposes a prolongation of one of thepintles on which the catch turns, as represented in dotted lines at F,may be used. This pintle may extend toward the front and be providedwith a knob, by means of which it may be directly turned by applicationof the hand. In the form shown, however, which is applicable to gates,the knob is out of the way, and has advantages in that respect.

The case may be held securely in the cavity by means of a screw, 75, theprojecting head of 90 which may limit the inward movement of the catchand keep it always ready to fall out.

The pins 0 e limit the outward movement of the catch, and the shaft onwhich they are placed shouldbe allowed slight endwise move- 5 ment.

It will be observed that this catch, constructed and applied as abovedescribed, is entirely inclosed and out of sight, and can be raised onlyby turning the knob. It makes a very neat, 100

simple, and secure latch, certain to operate automatically, and notliable to be displaced by accident.

In Fig. 4 is shown a modification of the device. Here the swinging latchis provided with a staple, while the spindle ofthe knob has apin,whichengages with the staple and swings the latch by a rotary movement of theknob in either direction. A

In Fig. 5 another modification is shown. Here the swinging latch ispivoted in a recess in the post and drops into an opposite recess in thegate, while the end of the knob-spindle, turned up at right angles, isadapted to strike it and press it back into the gate-post when the gateis to be opened.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a gravity-latch pivoted in the edge of the gate orgate-post, at substantially right angles to the plane thereof,

with a knob-spindle connected to said gravitylatch, by meanssubstantially as described, the rotary motion of which spindle raisessaid atchh 2. The combination of the gravity-catch, having an incline,b, pivoted by pintles c in bearings in an inclosing-case at right anglesto the plane of the gate, and a shaft, E, having a pin adapted tooperate in connection with said incline to raise the catch,substantially as described.

3. The combination of the gravitating catch, constructed as described,and the shaft E, with pins 6 e, working in a recess in the lower edge ofthe catch, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FENTON N. MARTIN.

'Witnesses:

Grms. E. BURNETT, OHAs. H. METCALF.

